The Afghan Film Festival

Beyond Burqa’s and the Taliban: the Afghan Film Festival  Taliban, turbans and terrorism: these are just a few things that spring to mind when we contemplate Afghanistan. But there is more to Afghanistan! That’s why the Woest Foundation and Rialto bring the Afghan Film Festival to Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Saturday the 13th of November. For one day, Rialto will be the stage for the best Afghan films, documentaries, visual arts, music and debates. Forget about Camp Holland and plunge into the unknown parts of Afghanistan! It is time to put the spotlights on the role of cinema, art and culture in the country… By presenting the best and most recent films and documentaries, the Afghan Film Festival tries to offer a deep and nuanced view on contemporary Afghan society. The program touches upon diverse topics like the recent war, political elections, the fate of Afghan refugees abroad and the extensive drug addiction in the country. But the films also show the resilience and strength of the people in Afghanistan.  Besides films and documentaries, there will be several debates in which politicians, filmmakers, journalists and Afghan students offer their perspective on Afghanistan’s current society. In the evening, journalist and author Eefje Blankevoort will host the talk show Zap Afghanistan, in which she discusses the impact of our own imaging around Afghanistan with various experts. Which images from Afghanistan were we never allowed to see? And what did Afghans like to watch themselves in the past few years?  Around midnight you can join in on a special edition of Rialto Laat, which transforms the film theatre into an Afghan club with several DJs and VJs, who mix traditional Afghan sounds and video-clips with steaming Western beats.   The Afghan Film Festival Saturday November 13th, 3 PM – 3 AM Film theatre Rialto, Ceintuurbaan 338, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. For more information: http://www.afghaansfilmfestival.nl/english-version   The Afghan Film Festival is a cooperation between the Woest Foundation and Rialto Laat.  Rialto Laat: a surprising mix of cult, camp & crossover on the late Friday- or Saturday night. On a monthly basis, a guest programmer explores the boundaries of the (un)expected.